Can you guess which hurricane was the deadliest in our nation’s history? You probably named Katrina — or maybe Andrew or Maria.
While those storms certainly wreaked devastation upon the East Coast and islands of the Atlantic, the hurricane which took the most lives occurred in Galveston in 1900.
Between 6,000 and 12,000 people were killed during that storm, which saw six-foot high waves of water crashing along the city’s Broadway Avenue. Survivors of the catastrophe would later tell of seeing streetcar tracks, a grand piano, and other incredible detritus being carried by those waves.
If you have recently moved to a hurricane-prone area of the country, it’s important to be prepared for whatever havoc Mother Nature plans to send your way. Read on for a list of hurricane survival tips to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe.
5 Hurricane Survival Tips to Heed Before a Storm Hits
Hurricane season runs from late spring into the autumn, but there have also been winter hurricanes — so don’t waste any time. Get started on hurricane preparedness so you’re not caught out.
1. Create an Evacuation Plan
First and foremost, plan how you will evacuate during a storm. It’s always smart to get yourself and your family to safety when a hurricane threatens, but you don’t want to just head out willy-nilly.
Plan a route, keep extra gas on hand (or in your tank), and stash a suitcase with all the essentials in your garage, laundry room, or storage shed. That way you can grab it and go.
If you are a pet owner, don’t forget your furry family members when you hit the road! Make sure you have a supply of pet food, treats, toys, leashes, and anything else that will keep your animal safe and secure.
2. Have a Hurricane Kit on Hand
There are times when evacuating might not be advisable — or even possible. So keeping a hurricane kit to hunker down with is also smart.
Emergency supplies to keep handy should include:
- A first-aid kit, including any prescription medication you take regularly
- Non-perishable food and plenty of bottled water
- A battery-powered radio and device chargers
- Portable generators
- A flashlight and batteries
- A stash of emergency cash
3. Get the Right Kind of Insurance
Don’t wait until hurricane season to make sure you have flood insurance. Even if you’re not in a coastal area, you can still be prone to flooding.
Most homeowner’s insurance will not cover water damage or loss caused by floods, so this is essential if you live anywhere near a hurricane’s path.
4. Make Sure Your Home Is Ship-Shape
Similarly, it’s crucial to keep your home in good repair. Don’t let any structural issues remain unfixed. Loose shingles, shutters, or gutters, broken or cracked doors or windows, or a roof in poor condition are among the repairs to make immediately.
Purchase plywood sheets to tack over your windows when a storm threatens, as well.
5. Back Up Your Electronics
You might not be thinking about your laptop or the camera roll in your smartphone in the days leading up to a hurricane. But you should be.
In the event that your electronics take a beating, you should back up all data to an offsite storage center or, even better, to the cloud. It’s easy to do this, but you can make it even easier on yourself by scheduling automatic data backups.
Final Thoughts
Following these hurricane survival tips might just end up saving your life. The season for such storms might seem a long time away, but the truth is that severe weather can strike at any time.
To be prepared for any emergency situation, read this blog post!
